The recent suicide of microbiologist Bruce Ivins, pegged by the US government as the culprit in a spate of deadly anthrax mailings in 2001, is already spurring a boost in security procedures and screening at labs working on deadly pathogens.

Boston University's biolab, a controversial high-security facility under construction in the city's South End neighborhood, plans to vet prospective researchers by investigating their psychological history, financial stability, and other factors.

"We consider someone who is under financial duress to be a risk," Gary W. Nicksa, BU's vice president for operations, told the Boston Globe. "Do you want someone who could . . . have access to sensitive information or sensitive materials in a position that they could be approached by someone who says, 'Would you be willing to do something for me?'"

A public hearing on the lab is scheduled for tonight (October 14) at 6:30 pm.

Already, in order to study certain deadly and highly infectious pathogens, researchers must undergo a security check by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and about 15,000 researchers have clearance for such work. BU plans to go beyond the FBI requirements and will also install high-tech cameras that ascertain the identity of anyone working in the facility, and trigger security if a worker stays out of the camera's range for too long.

The BU biolab's construction has been stalled at least until next year as the university and a specially appointed NIH panel conduct additional safety reviews. An activist group sued the NIH in 2006, claiming proper risk assessments had not been done.